Natural ear

Abstract

Methods and systems for assisting tonally-challenged singers. A microphone can be integrated with a sound reinforcement system used in a live performance. The microphone, which can transduce the performer's voice, can serve multiple purposes such as, for example, to feed input to the natural ear and to the sound reinforcement system. The processed sound of the performer's voice (with fundamental frequencies emphasized) can be mixed into the signal fed to a stage “monitor” speaker facing the performer or a headset worn by the performer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for assisting tonally-challenged singers, said system comprising:
 a sound transducing device that transduces a voice of a singer; and 
 a filter and amplifier circuit that receives a signal produced by said voice of said performer from said sound transducing device and filters and amplifies said signal so that fundamental frequencies of said voice of said singer are accentuated, thereby allowing said singer to self-monitor said voice and augment an ability of said singer to sing intended notes and harmonize with others and potentially reduce or eliminate a need for auto-tuning. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said filter of said filter and amplifier circuit comprises at least one of the following:
 a band pass filter; 
 a low pass filter; 
 an adaptive filter; 
 a notch filter; 
 a mechanism that detects said fundamental frequencies and then synthesizes said fundamental frequencies back for said singer to hear; or 
 a component that effectively accentuates said fundamental frequencies of a spoken utterance or sung utterances of said singer and/or suppresses distracting harmonics. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein said sound transducing device comprises a microphone. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a sound emitting device in association with said sound transducing device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein said sound emitting device and/or said sound transducing device are incorporated and configured within at least one wearable device. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein said sound transducing device together with said filter and amplifier circuit allows said singer to better perceive a fundamental pitch with respect to said voice being uttered by said singing and compare with sounds produced by other performers. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  further comprising an optional pre-amplifier circuit that receives and pre-amplifies said signal for input to said filter and amplifier circuit and/or to a sound reinforcement system. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 4  further comprising an optional mixer that receives as input said signal after filtering and amplification of said signal through said filter and amplification circuit and optionally receives as input another signal indicative of a monitor channel and mixes said signals for output through said sound emitting device. 
     
     
       9. A method for assisting tonally-challenged singers, said method comprising:
 detecting a voice of a singer with a sound transducing device; 
 receiving a signal produced by said voice of said performer from said sound transducing device; and 
 filtering and amplifying said signal with a filter and amplifier circuit so that fundamental frequencies of said voice of said singer are accentuated, thereby allowing said singer to self-monitor said voice and augment an ability of said singer to sing intended notes and harmonize with others and potentially reduce or eliminate a need for auto-tuning. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein said filter of said filter and amplifier circuit comprises at least one of the following:
 a band pass filter; 
 a low pass filter; 
 an adaptive filter; 
 a notch filter; 
 a mechanism that detects said fundamental frequencies and then synthesizes said fundamental frequencies back for said singer to hear; or 
 a component that effectively accentuates said fundamental frequencies of a spoken utterance or sung utterances of said singer and/or suppresses distracting harmonics. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein said sound transducing device comprises a microphone. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  further comprising associating a sound emitting device with said sound transducing device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein said emitting device and/or said sound transducing device are incorporated and configured within at least one wearable device. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  wherein said sound transducing device together with said filter and amplifier circuit allows said singer to better perceive a fundamental pitch with respect to said voice being uttered by said singing and compare with sounds produced by other performers. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9  further comprising receiving and pre-amplifying said signal with an optional pre-amplifier circuit for input to said filter and amplifier circuit and/or to a sound reinforcement system. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 receiving as input said signal with an optional mixer after filtering and amplification of said signal through said filter and amplification circuit; 
 optionally receiving as input another signal indicative of a monitor channel; and 
 mixing said signals for output through said sound emitting device. 
 
     
     
       17. A system for assisting tonally-challenged singers, said system comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer usable medium capable of communicating with said at least one processor, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said at least one processor and configured for: 
 detecting a voice of a singer with a sound transducing device; 
 receiving a signal produced by said voice of said performer from said sound transducing device; and 
 filtering and amplifying said signal with a filter and amplifier circuit so that fundamental frequencies of said voice of said singer are accentuated, thereby allowing said singer to self monitor said voice and augment an ability of said singer to sing intended notes and harmonize with others and potentially reduce or eliminate a need for auto-tuning. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  wherein said filter of said filter and amplifier circuit comprises at least one of the following: a band pass filter, a low pass filter, an adaptive filter, a notch filter, or a mechanism that detects said fundamental frequencies and then synthesizes said fundamental frequencies back for said singer to hear. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17  further comprising an optional pre-amplifier circuit that receives and pre-amplifies said signal for input to said filter and amplifier circuit and/or to a sound reinforcement system. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17  further comprising an optional mixer that receives as input said signal after filtering and amplification of said signal through said filter and amplification circuit and optionally receives as input another signal indicative of a monitor channel and mixes said signals for output through a sound emitting device.